Packet making apparatus



Dec. 10, 1940. I J, w c s ETAL 2,224,779

PACKET MAKING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 29, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet l I, Maw

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Dec. 10, 1940.

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PACKET MAKING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Fi led Oct. 29, 1937 Ira/M15071;

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Dec. 10, 1940. J. w. CHALMERS ETAL PACKET MAKING APPARATUS Original Fil ed Oct. 29, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 10, 1940-, J. w. CHALMERS r: rA| 2,224,779

PACKET MAKING APPARATUS Original Filed .Oct. 29, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 1O & 'y' ./0. "info w Figure :3.

Patented Dec. 10,1940

PATENT OFFICE EDeptford,London, England, assignors to Molins iMachine .Gompany, Limited, London, England Original application October 29, 1937, Serial No. $1713.96. 'Divided and this application June 27, ,1938, Serial No. 216,142. In Great Britain OctoberZQ, 193-7 11 ;Claims.

This invention is for a packet making apparatus and is a division ofour prior filed application Serial No. 171,796, filed October'29,"1937.

One-object of the invention is to provide means whereby empty wrappers may be formed about a mandrel, the wrappers being open at one end to receive batches of cigarettes. This and other objects will be described with reference to the ac companying drawings, in which:

Figure -1 is a plan of a cigarette packing machine having a packet making apparatus connected thereto.

Figures do and lbshow'Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure-2 is anelevationlooking in the direction of thelarrowl, Figure 1.

Figures 2a :and '21) show Figure 2 drawn to *an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is an-elevation of the machine looking :in the direction of the arrow 3,'-'Figure1.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevationon the line "Figure 5 is a side-elevation-showing mechanism iorstripping formed wrappers from a mandrel.

Figure 6 shows a valve used in connection with the mechanism shown in FigureS.

Figure 7 is a View of Figure 6 looking in the direction of'the-arrow-8. Y

F-igure 8 is a sectional elevation of 'Figure 6, some parts being shown in difierent positions from :t-hoseshown in Figure G.

Ji igures 9 to 16 inclusive illustrate various successive operations during the forming-of a packet.

Figure :17 is a perspective 'view of a finished open ended packet.

"Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to Figures '-1 and '2, a plurality of mandre'ls 3B :are supported'by carrier 3| mounted for rotation about the axis of a shaft 32. Each of the mandrels is divided into two parts 30a andimh the part ZOa'beingrig-idIy connected with the carrier 3? whilst the part 30b is pivoted thereto ier a purpose which will hereinafter "appear.

' The carrier 31 rotates in the direction or the arrow-shown in Figure 12. Rotation :of the car- 'rier 31! is eiiected :by a :Geneva. drive shown in A .drivenzm'einber :33 provided with iadial 51013523 5 is-holtedto thewcarrierB-l zand a-regisiter is provided between :successive :slots 34. Therdrivcnmember :33 is intermittently moved by a roller '38 which .is-ireely rotatable on .a support :3"! and enters each of the slots in succession.

The support .3! is secured to a shaft 38' which shaitwis'ccntinuously irotated. ;-As .canbe'zseen from-Figure .3, the-support 3115 provided with an enlarged .boss. 39 which :co-operates with the reg- .ister35, :a segmental partta of the .boss being cut away to enable the .driiremmember-33to IQ (01:93-12) r I tate when the cut away portion of the-boss 39 is adjacent the member 33. I v A Geneva mechanism of this kind is well known, but it is found that in practice such mechanism is frequently noisy in operation due to some clearance which is necessary between the register and the co-operatingpart 39 of the "support "3-1.

In order to reduce the noise the-place at which the boss 39 co -operates with a register 35 is arranged to be submerged in oil contained in a container 40. The oil forms a film on the surface of the register 35 and the boss 39 and reduces the space, which space it will be appreciated is very small, between the register and the co-operating surface of the boss 39. The shaft 38 is, as

previously stated, continuously driven and is driven from the main drive of the machine.

Each mandrel, as.will -be seen from the drawings, -is-of substantially oblong rectilinear crosssection and is moved into engagement with a length of wrapping material which is fed into the path of the mandrel.

For convenience'the various positions at which operations are performed to-fold a wrapper about a mandrel will be referred to as stations. The firs'tsta'tion indicated by the reference I-is the station at which a mandrel'first engages with a =wrap per"'(seeFigures' 2b and "9) Wrappingmate- "rialis fed from a'reel ll between feedingrollers 42 'and 43 and-on to a support. The'support 44 is provided -with-a'slot 4'5 through which a mandrel passes, thusforming the wrapper into a U shape about the leading narrow face of the'man'drel .(see Figure 10). When-a length of wrapping material has "been fed on to "the support 44, a wrapper is severed from the web by meansof a fixed knife 16 and a rotatable knife 41. A stripping element 48 is pivotedat to'the carrier 50 on which the knife *4! 'is'mounted-and the stripping element'is yoperated by a fixed cam 5| to deflect the severed urea 10. The longer ilimb :of the U 'is engaged by a guide 52 and is supported thereby during the movement fOf the-mandrel and wrapper to station II. .-A pressing element-'53 is arranged to co-oper- -:ate with each mandrel, the pressing element being pivoted about the axis "of a spindle 54 sup-- ported by the carrier 3| and first arranged to ---,engage theshorter limb of the U and to hold the shorter climb against abroad face of a mandrel. Thismovement :of the presser element '53 is -=eiiected :byn fixed member 55. .-As :the presser 961621161113 gpasses the member 55 .a roller J5 described below engages with the member 5.5. The

- is folded about the narrow face opposite that narrow face of the mandrel about which the base of the U is formed and into overlapping engagement with the shorter limb of the U (see Figure 12). These folding operations are effected by means of a folding element '57 pivoted at 53 to a carrier 59. The carrier 59 is supported for movement towards and away from the mandrel at station II by a pair of parallel links 60 and 6|. The links 55 and 6| are pivoted at 62 and 63 respectively to the frame of the machine and at 64 and 55 to thecarrier 55. The link 6! is also con.- nected with an arm 55 carrying a cam follower 6'! which co-operates with a cam 68.- The cam 68 causes the parallel links to be rotated about their pivots 52 and 63 thereby effecting movement of the carrier 59 and the folding operations above referred to. As the'carrier 59 is moved towards a mandrel position at station II the folding element 51 engages the trailingend of the longer limb of the U of wrapping material and folds the trailing end against the narrow side face of the mandrel opposed to that about which the base of the U is formed. Continued movement of the carrier 59 causes a projection. 69 on the folding element 5? to engage with an abutment 10 secured to the frame of the machine. The abutment 19 comprises a screw capable of adjustment and provided with a locking nut to'hold the screw in position after it has been set. Engagement of the projection 69 with the abutment 1U causes the folding element 51 to turn about its pivot 58 thereby folding'the upstanding trailing end of the wrapper into engagement with the shorter limb of the U as shown in Figure 12.

The folding element 51 is moved in timed relationship with the pressing element 53, the arrangement being such that the pressing element '53 is raised out of engagement with the shorter --limb of the U just prior to the'folding element 5! causing the trailing end of the wrapper to be folded into engagement therewith. The pressing element 53 is moved out of engagement with the shorter limb of the U by a lever H having a slot '12- which co-operates with a fixed pin 13. The lever H is guided by the pin 13 and slot 12 and is reciprocated by a cam 14 which cooperates with a cam follower 15 carried by the lever H. The end of the lever 'H engages with a roller 16 supported by an arm 11 secured to the spindle 54. Engagement of the lever H with the roller 15 causes the presser element 53 to turn about the axis of the spindle 54 and out of engagement with the shorter limb of the wrapping material.

* ment 5'! is operative to fold the trailing limb of the U.

The shorter limb of the U when the presser member 53 is moved out of engagement there- 7 with is prevented from moving for any substantial distance away from the broad face of a mandrel againstwhich it is folded by a guide pivoted at BI and controlled by a spring 3! aazavve and a stop 382 with which a foot 383 secured to the guide 80 engages. Before the folding element 5'! disengages the flap folded thereby, the presser member 53 is caused to engage the overlapping portions of the wrapping material and to hold them in position about the mandrel. As the mandrel is moved away from station II the presser member 53 rotates the guide 80 about its pivot so as to permit the forward movement of the presser member 53. The guide 52 is secured to the carrier 59 for movement therewith and is arranged to bridge the slot 45 whilst folding operations are being effected at station II and whilst a further wrapper is being fed on to the support 44. The guide 52, therefore, prevents the end of a wrapper from entering the slot 45 before the wrapper is engaged by a mandrel and moved thereby through the slot.

The folding elements 51 and 18 are controlled by springs 82 and 384 respectively as can be seen from Figure 2.

A spring 83 maintains the cam follower 61 in engagement with the cam 68 and a spring 84 maintains the cam follower 15 in engagement with the cam 14. The cams 68 and 14 are mounted for rotation with a shaft 85 and it will therefore be seen that the operation of the presser member 53 and the folding elements 51 and I8 is effected in timed relationship.

After a folding operation has been effected by the folding elements 51 and 18, the pressing member 53 is .moved downwardly and engages the overlapping portions of the wrapper, holding them in position against the broad face of the mandrel before they are released by the folding elements 51 and 18.

The wrapper is so placed about the mandrel that it projects beyond the free end face thereof and when the carrier 59 is moved towards the mandrel, a further folding element 86 secured to the carrier 59 engages with the outwardly extending portion of the wrapper which projects beyond the end face of the mandrel from that side thereof which is opposed to the side against which the edges of the wrapper are overlapped and folds the projecting portion upwardly into engagement with the end face of the mandrel (see Figure 12).

The folding operations above described being completed, the mandrel is moved to station III at which the second wrapper or label is applied to the mandrel and is folded thereabout. During movement of the mandrel from station II to station III, the first-applied wrapper is held in position upon the mandrel by the presser memi ber 53.

Ascan be seen from Figure 2, the mandrel when in position at station III has its broad faces arranged in substantially horizontal planes and the label is moved upwardly into engagement with the lower broad face of the mandrel.

. The second wrapper or label is positioned prior "to its movement into engagement with the mandrel, on a support whose supporting surface is arranged below that of the support 44. It will be seen, therefore, that whilst the support 44 is arranged to dispose a wrapper in the path of a mandrel, the support for the second wrapper or label is adjacentthe path of the mandrel, and the arrangement of the two wrapper supports is such that whilst the first wrapper is first engaged by a narrow side of the mandrel, the second wrapper is first engaged by a broad side of the mandrel adjoining the narrow side first engaged by the first wrapper.

The label comprising the second wrapper .is fed from the bottom ofa pile oflabels contained in a magazine '83. The labels tare fed from the bottom of the pile one at a time by 'agripper element 89 comprising a suction tube connected with a suction pump. The suction tube :is carried by a bell crank lever 90 .pivotedfiat -9'I and oscillatedabout the :pivot 9| :by .a connecting arm'92 pivoted at '93 to :a support 94 'wh'lchiis pivoted at 95 to the frame "of the :machine.

The support 94 vcarries'a cam "follower 96 (see Figure 4) which :co-:operates with a cam 91 to effect oscillation of thebell crank .lever .90 about the pivot 9'I. The tsuction tube :89 due to the 'movement of the bell crank lever .90 draws the labels one at 'a time downwardly so that the leading edge of a "label is engaged 'between *an idler roller I and the :surface of a positively rotated roller 98, An arm 99 also pivoted at 95 supports the roller I00 which co-operates with the surface of the roller 98 .to feed the label forwardly to a pair .of feed :rollers IOI, I02. The arm 99 also supports 'a camfollower I03'which co-operates with a cam I04 and-moves therroller 199 in timed relationship with the suction "tube 139 so as to engage and feed forwardly a blank at the correct time. The cam .followers 96 and I03 are held in position'against the surfaces of the cams 91 and I04 respectively by'springsnot shown. The rollers I 0| and I02 feed "the label forwardly between'rollers I05 and I06, the roller I93 projecting through a support I'0-I over which the label isfed.

Transfer elemen ts i 08 are :arranged to transfer adhesive from a container I09-tothe surface of rollers, not shown, which app-lies'ad'hesive to the label, pressure rollers 81, see Figure lubeing-p-rovided to press the label against'theiadhesive applying rollers. A'scraping element I'I0 isprovided to remove surplus adhesive .afrom the surface of the transfer element I08. The adhesive applying rollers apply adhesive to the'label at desired positions so that when the label is folded about the mandrel the folds-made in'the label will be held in position.

After adhesive has beenapplied to the vlabel the latter passes between a still further pair-of rollers III and II2*and:the rear edge'ofthe label is engaged'by pusher 'elements- Hi3, pivoted "at I I4 and at 584 and "caused to move'in i'he'dire'ction of movementof the label by means of operating elements I'I'5,.I I 9, 1 Hand Ii'I8',-?the operating elements causing the pusher I 13 to be'rotated about the pivot I I4 through the rn'edium of 'avcam follower .I I9 secured to the element I I81and co-operating with a'cam I20. The'pusher element 1 I3 by reason of the fact that it engages the rear edge of a label, positively locates the label inthe required position on the support from which :position it is moved into engagement with the mandrel disposed at station III.

The support for the label comprises a plate I2I and fthe upper surfaces of a pair of folding elements I22 and I23. Guide elements 124 and I25 are provided to guide the edges of the label in the clireotion of feeding thereof.

plate I2I and the'folding elements 122 and IE3 are supported by a carrier I26 mounted in a slide I2 1. The carrier I26 hasconnected thereto a cam follower I28 whiohco-operates with a cam I29. A spring (not shown) maintains the cam follower in engagement with the cam I29. As can be seen from Figure 2, the plate I2I is movable relatively to the carrier I26, being 'slidably mounted therein andcontrolled by a spring I30.

portions of the second wrapper.

."folding elements iI22 and I23 are carried by supports 1I3'I and ;I:321pivoted:at I33 and I34 respectively. .Th'elower :ends ;of the supports are :connected by .':a:spring I35. The cam I29 is mounted I011 :azshaft I39 on which shaft two furtjt'her'cams iI.3'I:and I 38are alsomounted, the cams I3! and I90 being (arranged to co-operate with .camlfollowers zI-39and I40 attached to the supports I3I and I32 respectively. fBy'this means the ifolding elements I22'1-and I23 'are operated" .zinitime'direlationship with the plate-MI and with .a pair of further "folding elements 'MI and I42 fined 'totthe (carrier .126.

..Biter.a label has been placed in position on the :support (see Figure 13) 'the carrier I26 moves upwardly, ithus moving "the label upwardly and into engagement with the underside of the first "wrapper'which is formed about the mandrel.

When the :plate I2I engages the underside-of the :mandrel continuedmovement .of the carrier :causes thespring 213.0 :to :be depressed, thevplate .therbyholiding the wrapper against the underside otithe:mandrerwhilst the sprungfol'ding ele- .ments I'4I .and M2 :fold "the wrapper upwardly .ag'ainstthe 'vertical sides 0f the mandrel (see Figure? 1.4).. lhe upward movement of the carrier is such that thefolders I41 and I42 cease to move 'uzhensthe upper portions thereof are substantially flush with the upper surface of the mandrel, and

.at this timethe cams 'I3I and I38 cause the 'fold-' ring fiements-IZZ and I23 to move inwardly, folding the upstanding portions of wrapping material downwardly in overlapping engagement against the :upper surface of the mandrel (see Figure The pressing element '93 which is holding the overlappingportions of the first Wrapper against the upperisurface of the mandrel is moved away therefrom .as the folding elements I22 and I23 become operative in -order to permit the upstand-= ing portions "ofthesecond wrapper to be overlapped against the upperisurface of the mandrel. The :cams =.I3'I and*l38:are-so set \that the folding element "I29 is operative slightly in advance of the ".fo-ldin'gelement 123 so that that portion of.

the "wrapper 'whi'ohisfolded downwardly by the folding ielem'ent I23 'overlaps that portion which is'folded'by the'folding element I22. The portion 0f wrapping material which is folded downwardlyiby the foldingaelement I23 "hasbeen sup-- I thereof which engagesthewrapper. The projection "453 is so arrangedas-to' engage the wrapper directly above the-position at which adhesive is placed between the. overlapping parts thereby 'causing better adherence of the'overlapping parts.

The movement of-thepresser member 53 when the latter isoperative at station III is eifected by a cam 1 43 -which='co-operates with the roller 16;

'The oam M3 :.is-moved=in timed relationship with the -'cams I29, I31, I38.

A pair of further folding elements I 414 and I45 are'sconnected with the folding elements I22 and I 23 "respectively for m'ovement therewith. The

As the folding elements I44'and I45 are arranged to form narrow side folds I46 and I41 in those portions of the first and second wrapper which project beyond the end of the mandrel. As the folding elements I22 and I23 are moved inwardly the folding elements I44 and I45 move inwardly also, thereby folding the projecting narrow portions of the first wrapper against the end face of the mandrels.

The first wrapper comprises a metal or other foil wrapper preferably lined with a paper liner on that side which is to engage the cigarettes when the latter are inserted into the formed wrapper, whilst the second wrapper or label usually comprises a paper wrapper. Whilst it is a simple matter to secure the folds of the paper wrapper together by adhesive, it is considerably more difficult to secure folds formed in the foil wrapper either when the adjacent folds to be secured are both foil, or when one fold is foil and the other paper. By reason of the fact that the flap I48 is folded beneath the narrow end flaps I46 and I41 it is possible more easily to secure the end folds of the Wrapper, because when the further folding operations about to be described are completed, the adjacent folded portions of material which are to be secured to hold the end folds in position are folds formed from the paper wrapper.

After the folding operations above described have been completed, the carrier 3| is moved a further stage and the mandrel is moved to station IV. At station IV a pair of folders I49 and I50 are arranged to form the final closure flaps II and I52 respectively. The folders I49 and I50 are pivoted to arms I53 and I54 respectively, each of the arms I53 and I54 being pivoted at I55. Cam followers I56 and I51 connected with the arms co-operate with a cam I58, which cam causes the arms to be operated one after the other to perform the folding operations. The cam followers I56 and I51 are held against the cam I58 by springs (not shown). The folding element I49 is first operated and moves downwardly thereby folding the closure flap I5 I, which flap comprises wrapping material from both the first and the second wrappers arranged so that the second wrapper is outermost, against the end face of the mandrel. The folder I50 then moves upwardly, folding the closure flap I52, comprising the projecting portion of the second wrapper, upwardly into engagement'with the closure flap I5I (see Figure 16).

Since the flap I48 has been folded at a previous time, that is, by the folder 86, the flap I52 comprises only a portion of the second wrapper and the engaging portions of the closure flaps I5I and I52 are therefore both paper surfaces. Adhesive which was applied to the second wrapper in the manner above described secures the closure flaps I5I and I52.

The folding elements I49 and I50 are pivoted at I59 and I60 to the arms I53 and I54 respectively, the arrangement being such that during the folding operation the pivoted folders I49 and I50 are urged against the end of the mandrel by springs (not shown).

As can be seen from the drawings, each of the folding elements I49 and I50 is also shaped so that one corner or side of the projecting portion of the wrapper which forms a closure fold is engaged by the folding element before the whole of the closure flap is engaged by the folding element.

By this means the closure flaps are folded about the end face of the mandrel in a manner .such that they are tightly formed thereabout.

The folding element I50 is timed relatively to the movement of the mandrel that the fold I52 is retained in position by the element I50 until the fold I52 is engaged by a presser element I6I referred to below.

The formation of the empty packet, which has the form shown in Figure 17, is now completed and the packet is carried by the mandrel through a number of idle stations not enumerated, to a station V which is adjacent station I. At station V an empty packet is stripped from the mandrel about which it has been formed.

' Whilst a finished packet is being moved from station IV to station V the end folds of the packet are engaged by a presser element I6I mounted on a three-armed support I62 which support is slidably mounted on the shaft 32 and urged by a spring I64 towards a cam I63 secured to the carrier 3|, see'Figure 4. The cam I63 is in the form of a circular rack and projections I65 on the support I62 engage with the cam I63, thereby causing the presser bar I6I to be moved into and out of engagement with the end folds of the packets. To prevent undue rubbing of 'the end folds of the packets the cam IE3 is arranged to move the presser bar I6I out of engagement with the end folds whilst the mandrels are moving from one position to another. The bar I6I is heated in order further to facilitate the drying of the adhesive securing the end folds of the packets. Heating of the bar is effected by a resistance coil, not shown, which coil is included in the bar I6I and connected with a source of electrical power by means of wires I66. The pressure exerted by the bar IGI against the end folds may be adjusted as desired.

The pressing elements 53 also are provided with electrical heating elements, not shown, and are connected with a source of electrical power so that the drying of the adhesive between the overlapping portions of the second wrapper which are held in position by the presser members 53 may be facilitated.

As a mandrel approaches station V a roller I61 secured to the pivoted portion of the mandrel 30b engages with a'fixed cam I68, thus causing the pivoted portion 30b to move inwardly, compressing the spring I69 and reducing the size of the mandrel. When, therefore, the mandrel arrives at the station V the packet is of greater internal cross-section than the cross-section of the mandrel, and this facilitates the removal of the packet from the mandrel. I'he packet is removed from the mandrel by means of a pair of suction cups I (see Figures 1, 2 and 5) secured to a support I1I which is pivoted to a bracket supported by a carrier I12. The carrier I12 is slidable lengthwise of the mandrel and is moved by an arm I13 pivoted at I14 and a connecting link I connecting the arm I13 with the slidable carrier I12. The arm I13 is oscillated about its pivot I 14 by a link I16, one end of which is eccentrically connected with a rotatable disc I 11, the other end being connected with a pin I13 arranged to move in a slot I19 formed in the arm I13.

At each end of the stroke of the carrier I12 there is provided a stop, one stop being indicated by the reference numeral I00, the other by the reference numeral I BI. As the carrier I 12 approaches each end of its stroke, the support I11 is caused toturn about its pivot by reason of the engagement with a stop I80 or I8I of a projection 312 on an arm 31.! pivoted at "I tothe carrier I12. A further arm 112 is secured to the pivot of the support I18 and is parallel with the arm SH and connected with the arm 3" by a .link 113. By this means when, due to the projection 312 engaging a stop I or I8-I-, the arm 311 is turned about its pivot 111 a'corresponding movement is imparted to the arm 112, thus causing the support I H to be moved up-wardlyor downwardly according to whether the projection 3'12 engages the stop I8I or the stop I80.

At the end of the stripping action, that is, when a packet which has been removed from a mandrel by the suction cups is released from'the grip of the suction cups, thesupport is moved upwardly due to the engagement of the projection 312 with the stop -I 8i whilst at the end of its return stroke when the support is again in position above a mandrel from which a packet is to-be'stripped, engagementof the projection 31-2 with the stop I88 causes the support to be moved downwardly so that the suction cups I18 engage with the upper narrow side of the packet which is about the mandrel. The support I1I is provided with an aperture which cormnunicates with the suction cups I18 and a flexible pipe I82 connects the support I 1| with a valve I83, which valve is connected with a suction pump diagrammatically'indicated at I84. The valve I83 is operated by a pin I85 carried by the link I15 and arranged to depress the valve at the end of the stripping stroke of the carrier l12 thereby cutting off the suction so that the cups I10 release the packet which then falls on to the surface of a pair of conveyor bands I86. Connection between the link I15 and the arm I13 is eifected by a screw 313 which is secured in the arm I13 and has a shank slidable in a slot 314' formed in the link. I15. An adjustable screw 315 is locked in position in a bracket 318 secured to the support I12 and is arranged to engagea' fixed stop-311. A spring- 318 is provided'normally to maintain the screw 318 in the position shown in Figures 1 and 1a.

When, however, the screw 318 engages the stop 311 relative movement is effected between the support I12 and the link I15 whereby the support remains stationary, thus permitting the suction cups properly to grip a packet to be removed from a mandrel before the support isagain caused to move towards the conveyor bands I88.

An empty packet is depositedupon the bands I88 in a manner such that the packet is "stood upon one of its narrow sides. The packet ,deposited on the bands is positioned between two guides I81 and I88 which are arranged above the bands I88, 'the' guide I88 "being disposed at a greater distance above the bands I86 than is the guide I81. Movement of the bands I86 in the direction of the arrow (see Figure 2 causes the empty packet positioned between the guides I81 and I88 to engage with the guide I88 and the continued movement of the bands I86 causes the portion of the packet which engages the bands to be moved forwardly while the forward movement of the upper part of the packet isprevented by the guide I88. The empty packet is therefore the direction of movement of the bands I86. As

can be seen from Figure 2, the bands I86 are of a length such that a-number of empty packets are, during the operation of the machine, positioned lup'on the bands at onetime, andv this arrangemen't permits the machine minder to inspect the-packets being carried by the bands I86, so that should-a packet not be properly formed the machine minder can remove the defective packet and replace it with ar'good packet which has been made 'at someprevious time. By this means wastage on the machine is reduced,,because improperly formed packets are not filled with cigarettes but are removed prior to the filling operation. The bands I88 deliver the empty packets on to a stationary support I98, the packets being moved along the support by reason of successive packets engaging with each other and pushingeach-other-along, The packets are moved over the supor't I98 against a stop ISI by means of whichthey-arealigned for insertion into pock ets of a conveyor I93. The closed ends of the packets are located against the adjacent guide What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I 1. In a packet making machine, a mandrel of substantially-oblong cross-section movable in one directionithroug'h a predetermined path, two supports each to "receive a wrapper to be folded about the mandrel, the wrapper'frst to be engaged by the mandrel being received by one of said supports positioned in the path of the mandrel so that the wrapper received by the support is engaged by a narrowside of the mandrel, guides partly to fold, the wrapper about the mandrel, means to move the second wrapper to' be engaged by the mandrel from its support into engagement with the first wrapper and against a broad side of the mandrel and means: to overlap opposed edges of each 'of the wrappers.

2. In a packet making machine, a mandrel of substantially oblong cross-section revolvable bodily in one direction about a fixed axis, two supports each to receive a wrapper to be folded about the mandrel, said supports having supporting surfaces arranged one above the other in substantially parallel planes, one of said supports being arranged to support-a wrapper in the path of the mandrel so that the wrapper is engaged by a narrow side'of the mandrel during movement thereof, the-other support being arranged to support a wrapper at a position adjacent the path of the mandrel, means to move the last-mentioned wrapper towardsa broad side ofthe mandrel adjoining that side which is first engaged by the first-mentioned wrapper and means to overlap opposed edges of each of the wrappers.

3. In a packet making machine, a mandrel of substantially oblong cross-section movable in one direction through a predetermined path, two supports eachto receive a wrapper to be folded about the mandrel, the Wrapper first to be engaged by the mandrel being received by one of said supports positioned in the path of the mandrel so that the wrapper received by the support is engaged by a narrow side of the mandrel, guides The partly to fold the wrapper about the mandrel, means to move the second wrapper to be engaged by the mandrel from its support into engagement with the first wrapper and against a broad side of the mandrel, each of said wrappers extending beyond an end face of the mandrel, means to overlap opposed edges of each of the wrappers to form a tubular wrapper, and means to close that open end of the tubular wrapper which extends beyond said end face of the mandrel.

4. In a packet making machine, a mandrel movable in a predetermined path, .a support for a wrapper positioned in the path of the mandrel, means to fold the wrapper into U form about the leading face of the mandrel in a manner such that one limb of the U is longer than the other and trail-s beyond the rear face of the mandrel, mechanism to fold the trailing portion of the longer limb about said rear face and into overlapping engagement with the shorter limb, said mechanism comprising a carrier movable relatively to the mandrel and supported for movement by parallel links moved in timed relationship with the mandrel, a folding element pivoted to the carrier, a projection on the folding element, an abutment to arrest said projection thereby causing rotation of the folding element about its pivot and means to rotate the folding element about its pivot in a reverse direction when said projection ceases to engage the abutment andmeans operative during the folding of the trailing portion of said longer limb to prevent substantial movement of the shorter limb away from that face of the mandrel against which it is folded.

5. In a packet making machine, a mandrel movable in one direction through a predetermined path comprising a plurality of stations and mechanism at one said station to move a wrapper against the mandrel and to fold the wrapper thereabout with opposed edges of the wrapper overlapping and a part of the wrapper extending beyond an end face of the mandrel, said mechanism comprising a carrier movable relatively to said mandrel, folding elements pivoted on said carrier, the upper surfaces of the folding elements providing a support for a part at least of a wrapper to be folded about the mandrel, a member supported by the carrier and arranged to fold a wrapper into U form about the mandrel, a clamping member supported by and movable relatively to the carrier and operative to clamp the base of the U formed by the wrapper against the mandrel, means to move the folding elements one towards the other in succession to fold the upstanding limbs of the U formed by a wrapper into overlapping relationship against the mandrel, and further folding elements supported on said carrier and operative in a plane substantially at right angles to that in which the limbs of the U are overlapped, to fold portions of the wrapper which extend beyond said end face of the mandrel against said end face.

6. In a packet making machine, a mandrel, folding elements to form a tubular wrapper about the mandrel and to close one end of the wrapper, a stripping element connected with a source of suction and arranged to engage a side of a packet formed about the mandrel and means to effect relative movement between said stripping element and the mandrel to remove the packet therefrom, said means including a lost-motion device arranged to provide a period of rest for the stripper element after the latter has engaged a packet whereby air may be substantially completely exhausted from the stripper element before the latter is caused to remove the packet from the mandrel.

7. In a wrapping machine, a mandrel about whicha wrapper is formed, a carrier supported for reciprocation lengthwise of the mandrel, a sucker pivoted to the carrier for movement therewith and means to rotate the sucker about its pivot so as to cause the sucker to engage and grip a wrapper on the mandrel and to release the wrapper after movement of the carrier has caused the wrapper to be removed from the mahdrel.

8. In a Wrapping machine, a mandrel about which a wrapper is formed, a carrier supported for reciprocation'lengthwise of the mandrel, a sucker pivoted to the carrier for movement therewith, means to rotate the sucker about its pivot so as to cause the sucker to engage and grip a wrapper on the mandrel, a suction pump, a connection between the sucker and the suction pump and forming part of said connection, a valve operative in timed relationship with said carrier to permit access of atmospheric air to said connection.=

9. In a wrapping machine, a mandrel about which a wrapper is formed, a carrier supported for reciprocation lengthwise of the mandrel, a sucker pivoted to the carrier for movement therewith, .a pair of stops each arranged in the path ofsaid-sucker and one adjacent each end of the stroke of said carrier whereby continued movement of the carrier after movement of the sucker in the direction of movement of the carrier has been arrested, causes rotation of the sucker about its pivot, a suction pump, a connection between the sucker and the suction pump and forming part of said connection, a valve operative in timed relationship with said carrier to permit access of atmospheric air to said connection.

10. In a wrapping machine, a mandrel about which a wrapper is formed, said mandrel comprising a fixed and a movable part, means to urge said movable part away from the fixed part whilst a wrapper is being formed about the mandrel, means to move the movable part towards the fixed part after a wrapper has been formed about the mandrel, a carrier supported for reciprocation lengthwise of the mandrel, a sucker pivoted to the carrier for movement therewith and means to rotate the sucker about its, pivot so as to cause the sucker to engage and grip a wrapper on the mandrel and to release the wrapper after movement of the carrier has caused the wrapper to be removed from the mandrel.

11. In a wrapping machine, a movable endless conveyor surface, a pair of guides arranged transversely to and above the conveyor surface one in advance of the other in the direction of movement of the conveyor, that guide which is foremost being at a greater distance above the conveyor than the other guide, and means to deposit a wrapper. upon a narrow side thereof on the conveyor surface and between said guides whereby movement of the conveyor causes the wrapper to be engaged by said guides and laid on a broad side on the conveyor.

JOHN WALKER CHALME-RS. DAVID BLEWES KIDD. 

